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Tanzania Task Force Trip- A Story of Wells and Water

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America maintains companion relationships with 20 synods in Tanzania, with the Delaware–Maryland Synod joining in 2002. As part of this partnership, a delegation including Pastor Charles Zang and I (David Osmondson, member of ASLC) attended the consecration of Bishop Michael Adam in the Mara Diocese in April 2009. Our visit also focused on development and ministry collaboration, including reviewing volunteer-funded well projects in Rusoli village, meeting leaders of the Bunda Hospital and the Kiabikari Bible School, and engaging with diocesan leadership. Our guide and translator for most of the trip was Amillen Kweka. While in Musoma, they stayed near Lake Victoria, where local realities of water access shaped much of their learning.

During our stay, the delegation experienced congregational life, including a Sunday worship service marked by multiple offerings, one specifically for those in poverty. Visits to Rusoli highlighted the life-changing impact of clean water wells, replacing reliance on contaminated river sources. We also observed the hospital’s limited water supply, prompting plans for a more costly deep-well project. At Kiabikari Bible School, previous well projects and later volunteer training support demonstrated the long-term commitment of the partnership, funded entirely through volunteer contributions and focused on sustainable ministry, education, and health initiatives. Shared by David Asmondson, 3/11/2026.